Why were Luther's ideas so provocative?

Answer 1

Martin Luther was a Christian theologian as well as a Augustinian monk, his teachings inspired the 'Protestant Reformation'

He also translated The Bible to German while adding several principles to the art of translating the Bible to make the translations more exact.

He wrote 'hymms' that led to the development of congregational singing found in the church today.

Being a Monk, he married a former nun, Katharina Von Bora, which has led to the tradition, in several Christian religions, of pastor, minister marriage.

His in-depth study of the Scriptures led him to the understanding that the Church had lost sight of several 'central truths'. This study led him to the pinnacle of his belief's which on Halloween 1517 he nailed his findings, the '95 theses', to the door of the Wittenberg Church.

Some of these are; (in translated English)

"When our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, said "Repent", He called for the entire life of believers to be one of repentance."

"As long as hatred of self abides (i.e. true inward repentance) the penalty of sin abides, viz., until we enter the kingdom of heaven."

"The pope himself cannot remit guilt, but only declare and confirm that it has been remitted by God; or, at most, he can remit it in cases reserved to his discretion. Except for these cases, the guilt remains untouched."

"There seems to be the same difference between hell, purgatory, and heaven as between despair, uncertainty, and assurance."

"There is no divine authority for preaching that the soul flies out of the purgatory immediately the money clinks in the bottom of the chest."

"It is certainly possible that when the money clinks in the bottom of the chest avarice and greed increase; but when the church offers intercession, all depends in the will of God."

"All those who believe themselves certain of their own salvation by means of letters of indulgence, will be eternally damned, together with their teachers."

"Christians should be taught that one who gives to the poor, or lends to the needy, does a better action than if he purchases indulgences."

What is seen in the '95' is that the flesh is weak and that the church through mistranslating the Bible, had begun to put the Pope, Cardinal's and Priest's on a level with the Lord GOD.

They had begun to promise absolution to those that indulged in the wants or needs of these leaders with property, gold and other wealth.

He was not the only one through this now growing exacting translation of the Bible to know the true meaning of pillar's of righteousness written in the Bible, but he was the first to push this knowledge on the Church.

Roman Catholic AnswerBecause some members of the Roman Church were foul and corrupt at the time. Thus, his protest of selling indulgences, and offices within the church was true and right even if he was very wrong in believing that Scripture is the only source of divine revelation.

The extractions from the 95 theses above prove the point that Martin Luther was objecting to his own understanding of one individual's preaching and NOT to the doctrine of the Catholic Church. His understanding of indulgences was so flawed as to be ridiculous if it hadn't put so many souls in eternal danger. As it was, his teachings were despicable especially as people to this day seem to think that he was objecting to real teachings of the Catholic Church. It was tragic then, and after four centuries the tragedy continues to deepen. Indulgences then, as now, have nothing whatsoever to do with forgiveness of sin.